Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-05-20

AAou HttoI gwen banner TO CneMl that tear
thce.''
Have we Saloons in Jerauld County?
While, in Woonsocket since their
election the above question was not
asked me. but the positive assertion
made by several of her citizens that
"Jerauld county now had saloons. Ii
being news to me, l as positively de-
MED the charge, only to be met with
convincing argument that "citizens of
Sanborn county went to Alpena for
their mornings morning and returned |
intoxicated, among them a man who
had, through the influence of friends,
been making an effort to reform. This
man, when sober, was a model neigh
Dor, good citizen, kind husband and ia
Their, but when whiskey was in, was a
demon. He returned from Alpena to
his little motherless children, CHS wife
died lately with no resemblance to the
tender atfectionate father who left
them few hours before, Of course ex-
citing much comment and Indignation
among the citizens Of Woonsocket. l
have always heard that the chair OF the
dog was good for the bite, and men
tally wondered if such instances were
not good temperance lessons during
the campaign IN that city. For we
wives and mothers of Jerauld county
have had much against the voters of
Sanborn county on account of their
federation of the whiskey traffic. We
were obliged to do much trading and
teaming with Woonsocket and many
of us know with what heart-aches and
and fears and anxieties we have seen
our best beloved start off for that place;
they full Of hope and courage born Of
good resolutions, only to return
to us maudlin, simpering, stagger-
ing, debauched, debased husbands and
sons, say nothing of the deprivations of
the real necessities of life, because the
saloon-keeper had appropriated to his
own use the money that should have
been ours, and Sanborn county received
the license money for granting the
rumseller the "indulgence", so they
might be able to build coolers to i'm
prison our dear ones, who had left us
in all the beauty of manhood, ii they
became noisy from the poison the sa'
loonist gave them in return for thell
money. We well remember the long
weary ride On loads of grain when DO
Oily weakness caused the whole system
to cry out in rebellion against such
suffering in the flesh as we endured il
accompanying husband or son, in ordel
that our presence might be as a goot
angel to help the poor, weak one to re
sist the temptations that met them al
the way down the street, only to-
thankful if we succeeded in getting
them outside the city where they could
breathe Gods pure air, free men.
All, this all flashed over us, as we
listened to the oft repeated statement
that Alpena whiskey was making de
solate Sanborn county homes. How
our hearts ached in sympathy for tn
afflicted ones and how our cheeks burn
ed with shame when such charge wa
made upon our fair county that has al
ways been like a city of refuge to tn
poor unfortunate victim OF the alco
holic habit.
In former days we have proudly list
ened to the words of praise from citi
zens of neighboring counties, whel
. they could, out of the fullness of thank
i full hearts, tell how grateful they wer
that they could bring their familie
to visit our county with Il feeling o
security that the children would not b
met with the degrading sight Of saloon
and husbands were safer from the vile
: of the rum-seller.
We still prefer to think that there
mistake somewhere, and that Jeraul
county still proudly tlngs the prohib
ton banner to the breeze, But = ar
not our white-ribbon women too muc
inclined to be lulled into inactlVit
through sense Of security? mo steI
backward" in this warfare for OF
homes, and our enemy is already in th
field, preparing for the vote on loo;
. option in the fall Money will be fire.
ly used to defeat US. Where are OF
danger signals? Whose boy will G
down in the pit, yours or NINE?
: 1t is for the mothers to say, 'Sthe S
: loon shall not tempt our sons and d
! stroy our daughters in Jerauld county
I Liquor men have dollars at stalk
II Christian men have sons at stake
Which is more valuable?
NJ Petroleum Y. Nasty says "that undo
u the license system the saloon-keep'
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